The Students with Unique Needs (SUN) Education Scholarship Account Act establishes a new program in Alabama aimed at providing parents of eligible students with the ability to create individualized education programs using funds from an education scholarship account. Eligible students include those under 19 who have attended public K-12 schools, children of active-duty military members, students with disabilities, foster children, and homeless students. The program is set to commence in the 2024-2025 school year, with an initial cap of 500 students and an additional 500 students allowed each subsequent year. Parents must adhere to specific conditions, such as providing education in core subjects and not enrolling their child in charter schools or the Alabama Accountability Act program. The act also outlines qualifying expenses for the scholarship funds, which can be used for various educational services, and mandates that the state deposit 95% of the gross state Foundation Program cost-per-student into each eligible student's account.

The bill, HB334, introduces several key provisions to enhance accountability and oversight of the scholarship accounts. Notable insertions include a system for parents to request preapproval and reimbursements for qualifying expenses, an online anonymous fraud reporting service, and a telephone hotline for reporting fraud. The State Board of Education is empowered to set rules for the payment of education service providers and to remove those that defraud parents. Additionally, the bill emphasizes compliance with health and safety laws, standardized testing, and the requirement for schools to provide receipts for qualifying expenses and demonstrate financial viability. It also ensures that parents are informed of their child's graduation status and mandates that resident school districts provide complete school records for eligible students. The act will take effect three months after its passage and approval by the Governor.